Keigo Asano's Perspective
You watch as she watches him. And then when she looks away, afraid of getting caught staring, you watch him glance up at her. You watch as he gazes at her for a second. Just for a second until he looks down. And it's as if he can't bear to look at her for any longer.
But then his eyes return to her like he can't stand not to look at her for another second. And then you see him shake his head as if he thinks looking at her is not a privilege he has or deserves. And you watch as he looks down again. And the whole thing repeats as she shyly peeks at him through her hair. And the process repeats and repeats and repeats as you fill the silence with jokes that have no punchline and no feeling. As your heart cracks with each fake grin.
You like her. You think you maybe even love her; although, it's just puppy love at most. But you love her, and you daydream of her turning towards you, looking at you, and smiling that smile that is reserved for him and only him. But they are all daydreams and nothing more. Because reality tells it to you straight: she's in love with him.
But if that was all, you would believe that you might still have a chance. But it's not. Because he loves her, too. And even though they are both too shy, too hesitant to start a relationship, there's no way that anyone could stand between 's no way you could even dare try to compete for her love when all her eyes will ever see is him.
But you won't wish him any encouragement even though you two are best of friends. He doesn't need it. Instead, you want him to stay a coward. You want him to not make a move even though it'll hurt her. Even though it'll hurt him. Because you want him to ache for her. And you want him to pine. To yearn. To long. To crave. To hope. To suffer. Because unlike you, he has a cure to ease his pain. He has her.
And you never will.
But it's just puppy love, right? After all, a jester has no place among a knight and his princess.